Rail-joint.



G. F. SHAPLAND.-

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9. I917.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

dzgailmd "UT ES BAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd N 20, 1917,

Application filed. April 9, 1917. Serial No. 160,700.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. SHAPLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salina, in the county of Saline and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of this invention is a rail joint wherein a locking member is interposed between abutting rail ends to prevent movement of the rails with respect to each other.

The main object of the invention is to provide means for locking abutting rail ends against vertical movement with respect t0 each other.

Another object is to provide a joint for the abutting ends of rails, which will also form a support for the base of the rail, contiguous the end.

Another object is to provide a rail joint which will necessitate but slight change in the usual formation of a rail end, and which will permit the usual and well known fish plates to be used in connecting the rails.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the/invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made with in the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the joint, showing the abutting rails separated and the fish plates removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the joint in place.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference:

R designates the usual and ordinary railway rail consisting of an elongated base plate 1, from which rises, vertically, the centrally positioned, longitudinal web 2, which is surmounted by the rail head 3. The base plate 1 is scarfed off at each end, as indicated the base 6 rises the attenuated web or arm 8, surmounted by the head 9. The contour of the head 9 conforms to the contour of a cross section of the rail head 3, and this head is formed with horizontally disposed tongues 10 adapted to enter the grooves 5.

The spacing member S is adapted to be placed between the abutting ends of rails, with the faces 7 of its base contacting the inclined faces of the undercut ends 4: of the rails, and the tongues 10 lying within the grooves 5. l/Vhen in this position, the rails may be secured together by fastening thereto, through the medium of bolts 11, the usual and ordinary fish plates 12. I

It will be readily seen that, should a weight be placed upon one rail, tending to depress the same, the other rail will be carried down with the first rail, because of the locking joint formed by the interposed spacer S and the rail connecting fish plates.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. A rail joint, comprising rails, and a base and head .for each rail, each railformed at the end with an undercut at the base and a transverse horizontal groove in the head,

. for locking the rails and spacing member tions of the rails, an attenuated Web rising as my own, I have hereto affixed my sigma from the center of the base, a head surture in the presence of two Witnesses.

mounting the Web, and tongues on the head.

and adapted to enter the grooves, and means GEORGE F. SHAPLAND.

Witnesses:

A. M. NIMMoNs,

together.

J. D. WELLINGTON.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D, G. 

